Starting mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



H. B. ANDERSON.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED 00131, 1911. I

1,058,214. Patented Apr. 8, 1913. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- r II Mi li Mfizesse a W BJIMVM H. B. ANDERSON. STARTING MECHANISM FORINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED T.31,'1911.

1,058,214. Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HHHHHH 4 9 21 10 J5 J? 21- z? .56 I 93 J6 i 46 102 9.1 I g 777 III/fig34/41/1111! Y a M 46 c 10 1M M212 ease a fzwezzzar HAROLD B. ANDERSON,OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Application filed October 31, 1911. Serial No. 657,839.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD B. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starting Mechanism forInternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to starting mechanism for internal combustionengines, and more especially to that type of starting mechanism whereina combustible fluid, preferably a fixed gas, is supplied to the cylinderof such an engine, to be ignited by the usual spark plug, thusdispensing with the necessity of cranking the engine.

The general object of this invention is to provide mechanism of suchcharacter which is extremely simple of construction, of greatefliciency'and reliability in action, and which can be readily appliedto existing installations wit-h a minimum of alteration therein.

More limitedly, the invention contemplates an improved construction andoperation of the valve mechanism whereby the flow of the combustiblefluid to the engine cylinders is secured and to a special constructionwhereby the charge of combustible fluid for the starting of the enginewill be supplied to the cylinder only when the speed of the motor isvery slow, as is the case when stopping the motor.

Still more specifically this invention is an improvement upon thatdisclosed in the application filed by myself and Alexander Winton onAugust 15th, 1906, Ser. No. 330,714.

Further and more generally speaking, the lnvention consists of thecombinations of elements embodied inthe claims set forth hereinafter andillustrated in the drawings forming part hereof, wherein Figure 1represents a side elevation of the front port-ion of an automobilehaving the invention applied thereto, the hood being broken away; Fig. 2represents a sectional detail through the valve mechanism by which theflow of combustible fluid is controlled; Fig. 3, an end elevation of aspark plug, showing the connections whereby combustible fluid may besupplied to said plug and thus to the cylinder; Fig. 4 a longitudinalsectional view through the plug and connections shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5'a view,

similar to Fig.2, of a modified form of the invention, showing the sameused in connection with a hand pump; Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar toFig. 5 of modified forms of the valvemechanism; and Fig. 8 a perspectiveView of the automatically operatlng valve which prevents the combustiblefluid from being supplied to the engine when the latter is running athigh speed.

Describing. by reference characters the various parts illustrated in thedrawings and acetylene gas for lighting purposes. 5 denotes a tubularconnection carried bysaid tank and provided with a manifold 6, fromwhich extends a tube 7 for conveying. gas to the lamps, and a specialtube 8, which extends to a valve mechanism indicated generally at 9 andsecured to the. front of the dash. This mechanism will now be describedin detail:10 denotes a T=shaped valve member, preferably a casting,provided within. its T-head witha 'bore 11 the member to a larger boreor chamber 12,

I there being a valve seat 13 formed between said bores. The valve stem14 is threaded into one end of the T-head and is provided with a valve15 cooperating with the seat 13. A suitable stuffing box for the valvestem is provided-by means of the usual land 16 and packing 17. The endof the -head 10 opposite the stuffing box is provided with a conicalseat 18 for the correspondingly shaped end of the conduit 8, beingdetachably connected to the T-head by means of a gland nut 19. Themember 10 is provided with a bore 20 communicating with the chamber 12and extending at substantially right angles therefrom, and in the saidbore a valve stem 21 is located. This stem forms part of a valve of thetype used in pneumatic tires. with a valve 22 adapted to cooperate witha seat 23 in the lower end of the bore 20. The upper end of the stem isguided by a spider 24, fitting loosely in an opening in said spider. Theouter end of the stem 21 pr.ojects beyond the branch 10 of the T, therebeing a bushing 25 threaded into the end of the bore 20 and providedwith a bore 26 sufficiently larger than the stem 21 to per- The valvestem is provided mit a free flow of gas therearound. A second valvemember of general L-shaped form isthreaded onto the branch 10 of the T.The branch of the L-shaped member which is so attached to the firstmentioned valve member is indicated at 27 and is provided with a chamber28 which is adapted to receive the gas flowing past the regulating valve15. The chamber 28 is provided with a port 29 in one of the wallsthereof and this port is controlled by a sleeve 30 having a port 31therein adapted to register with the port 29, the sleeve 30 beingrotatably mounted upon the casing 27 and being confined betweenshoulders 32 and carried respectively by the T and the casing 27. A setscrew 34 serves to retain the sleeve 30 in any desired position topermit such regulation as may be necessary of the air flowing into thechamber 28 through the ports 2.) and 31, to mingle with the gas inproper proportions to form a combustible and explosive mixture.

An annular valve seat- 35 is interposed between the two branches of theL-shaped member, there being a chamber 36 into which the mixture fromthe chamber 28 may pass when the valve cooperating with the seat 25 isopen. The chamber 36 is adapted to communicate with the chamber 37 inthe other branch of the L-sha ed valve member, the last mentioned chamer being arranged to communicate, through a suitable connection 38, withthe manifold or other supply conduit leading to the engine. Thisconnection is shown as provided at one end 39 with an external thread bymeans of which it is threaded into the branch 27*, at its other end 40with an internal thread for the reception of any suitable conduit, andas provided intermediate 9f such ends with an annular valve seat 41provided with a central port 42.

The L-shaped member of the valve mechanism is conveniently provided witha flange 43, by means of which said mechanism may be convenientlyaffixed to the dash, as by screws 44. It is also provided with a sleeve45 projecting in axial alinement with the bore 20 and chamber 28 andconstituting a guide for the valve stem 46, said stem being provided atits inner end with a valve 47 cooperating with the seat 35. At its outerend, the valve stem is provided with a knob 48, which is adjustablysecured to said stem and is secured in place by means of a set screw 49.The knob is provided with a cavity 50, extending from the inner facethereof, and in thiscavity is mounted a ball 51, which ball is held atthe outer end of said cavity by means of a spiral spring 52. The ballmay be conveniently retained within its aperture by staking the outerend of the cavity to contract the same. This ball coiiperates with ametal plate 53 secured to the dash, to which plate there is connectedone of the terminals 54 of the magneto or other igniting circuit. Thevalve 47 and its stem are normally held in their outermost or closedposition by means of a spring 55 within the chamber 28 and hearing atone end against the body 10 and at its other end against the valve 47.

An automatically operating valve is located within the valve chamberformed by the chamber 37 and the inner end of the connection 38. Thisvalve is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 8, and comprises generallya stem 56 having at each end a valve head. One of these heads 57controls the flow of gaseous fluid into the chamber 37 through theaperture 36 and the other head 58 controls the flow from the chamber 37into the conduit leading to the engine.-

Each Valve head comprises a central body or valve proper which is ofsuch size and shape as to closely engage its corresponding seat and isprovided, outside of said .valve proper, with a suitable number of slotsor passageways 57 and 58? to permit the gaseous fluid to flow freelythrough the chamber 37 and the interior of the sleeve 39 when the valvesare unseated.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the first four figures, theconnection 40 communicates with a manifold 59 and from this manifoldextend the conduits 60 which lead to the various engine cylinders.lVhile the valve mechanism described herein is capable of generalapplication, I have shown, as part of the igniting mechanism, the sparkplugs of the engine, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. For this purpose,each conduit 60 is connected to a special design of valve plug whichwill admit the igniting fluid through the cylinder and in such proximityto the spark point as will insure ignition. A convenient form ofplug forthis purpose is provided by elongating the outer casing and the innerbody. of a plug so as to form a chamber extending outside of the enginecylinder and into which chamber the conduit 60 may discharge.

In the drawings, 61 denotes the inner body of a spark plug, 62 the pointor terminal carried thereby; 63 denotes the'outer casing of the plug,which is provided with a thread 64 by means of which the plug may bescrewed into place in the cylinder wall, the outer portion of the casing63 being squared for the reception of a wrench. By

elongating the body 61 and casing 63 a chamber 65 is provided whichextends outside of the engine cylinder, which chamber may beconveniently closed by means of a suitable packing nut 66 threaded intothe outer end of the casing 63. The chamber 65 is conveniently placed incommunication with the conduit 60 by the construction shown herein,wherein a port 63 is provided in the wall of the casing 63, said porthavng a conical recess at its outer end for the reception of the conicalinner end 67 of the conduit. The conical end of the conduit isconveniently carried by a yoke or frame 68 which yoke is provided,opposite the tapered end of the conduit 67 with a screw 69 and having aconical end 70 adapted to fit within a conical recess in the casing 63opposite the conical recess at the outer end of the port 63. It will beapparent that, by merely tightening up the screw 69, a non-leakingconnection may be made between the conduit 60 and the spark plug. Forconvenience of application, the conical seats on opposite sides of theplug casing may each merge with a bore (63 and 63) whereby the conduitmaybe applied to either side of the plug and no special care need beexercised in applying the yoke to the plug. From the construction shownit is evident that combustible fluid admitted to the cylinder will firstfill the chamber and be in such proximity to the points or terminals 62and 62 as will insure ignition.

Theconstruction of the spark plug and the arrangement of the artswhereby it forms part of the conduit for supplying ignition gases to thecylinder constitute the subject matter of my co-pending application No.657,840 filed October 31, 1911.

With the parts arranged as described the operation will be as follows:Just prior to stopping the engine, the operator pushes the button 48with his foot. This cuts out the ignition current to the plugs. In theembodiment shown in Fig. 2, the circuit is grounded .through thetermlnal 54,-plate 53 and knob 48. The inward movement of the valve stemunseats the valve 47 and the movement of said valve unseats the valve22. The valve 15 being set for the desired rate of flow, gas can enterthe chamber 28, where it is mixed with air entering through the ports 29and 31. At first, as the engine slows down, its suction upon theautomatic valve 57, 58 will be so great that the valve 58 will be seatedagainst the action of the spring 56, and no gas will enter the cylindersuntil this suction falls below the tension of said spring. The partspreferably will be so rop0rtioned that this result will be obtained atabout the last two strokes of the motor. Meanwhile, until the suction sofalls the port around the valve 15 will be protected from the suction ofthe engine and, even where the gas discharges into a mixing chamber, theloss of gas prior to the unseating of the valve 58 will be small.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings there is shown a modification of theinvention, which differs from that shown in the views discussedhereinbefore in illustrating a different form of circuit breaker, adifferent form of air valve, and the employment of a hand operated pumpto force the gases to the cylinders. The parts which are substantiallyidentical with those in the preceding figures are designated by likenumerals. Inthis figure, the air valve is formed by means of a hollowinternally threaded boss 72 projecting from the mixing chamber 28 andprovided with a slot 73 for the admission of air, which slot iscontrolled by means of a valve plug 74 threaded into said boss. For thepurpose of grounding or cutting out the ignition, the valve stem 46 isprovided with a collar 75 having a slot which receives the outer end ofa spring plate 76 located between two other plates 77 and 78. The plates76 and 77 are normally in contact and may form part of the batterycircuit. When the knob 79 is pushed inwardly to admit gas to the chamber28 the battery circuit is broken between the plates 76 and 77 as well asat the switch usually provided. The magneto circuit is grounded orshort-circuited between the plates 76 and 78.

Instead of the form of connection shown in Fig. 2, thevalve 58 ismounted within a connection 80 having a seat 81 and an inter nallythreaded end 82 for the reception of the conduit leading to the engineor engines. Intermediate of the valve seat 81 and the threaded end 82,the connection 80 has a cylinder 83 communicating therewith whereinthere is mounted a piston 84, the rod 85 whereof is connected to anoperating rod 86, which may be suitably guided by sleeves 87 projectingfrom the cylinder and is provided with an operating handle 88. It willbe obvious that a movement of the piston 84 away from the connection 80will create a suction in the supply conduit and particularly in thatpart extending from the double acting valve 5758 to the engine, and thata reverse movement will create a compression in said conduit. I

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated a modification of the invention whereinthe construction of the parts is substantially identical with thelike-numbered parts in the preceding modifications. In the particularform of invention shown in Fig. 6, the automatic valve governs theadmission of air to the gas flowing past the valve 47. 89 denotes acasing projecting at substantially right angles from the casing 27 andpreferably directly opposite the internally threaded connection 90 forthe conduit supplying gas to the engines. The casing 89 is provided witha reduced bore or'chamber 91 provided with a valve seat-92, coiiperatingwith the valve 58 and with an enlarged bore or chamber 93 for the valve57. The outer end of the casing 89 is closed by a'plug 94 having anangular passageway 95 communicating at its outer end with an aperture 96in the casing, the how of air of said passageway being controlled by thevalve 57.

In Fig. 7 there is illustrated a modification of the invention whereinthe flow of gas and air to the ng chamber 28 is secured in substantiallythe same manner as in the case of the form of the invention firstdescribed. The parts which correspond in construction to those in Fig. 2are iven like reference numerals. The automatic valve construction ismore directly connected with the valve stem46 than is the case with themodifications hereinbefore described and needs particular description.9? denotes a valve which is adapted to rest upon the seat 35 formedbetween the chambers 28 and 36. This valve is provided with an upwardlyprojecting yoke 98 which is adapted to engage the valve stem 21 andopen' the valve carried thereby. The valve 97 is sleeved upon the stem46 and the sleeve portion 99 which extends into the chamber 36 isengaged by a spring 100 which tends to unseat the valve. The valve stem46, however, is provided with a disk 101 which is adapted to overhangthe valve 97 and is held against said valve by a spring 102 surroundingthe stem 46 and pressing outwardly against asuitable enlarged portion orabutment 103 thereof. From the chamber 36 there extends a threadedconnection 104: for the conduit leading to the engine. In the operationof this modification, the action of the spring 100 to unseat the valve97 is normally prevented by the opposing action of the spring 102. Whenthe operator pushes the knob 79 inwardly, it abuts against thesurrounding sleeve 105 and the valve 9?, being relieved of the action ofthe spring 102, will be unseated by the spring 100 and the yoke 98 will,through the movement of the valve 97, engage the valve stem 21 andunseat its valve. Gas can now flow to the chamber 28, and the mixture ofgas and air from said chamber can flow to the chamber 36 and thence tothe engine cylinders, provided that the suction of the motors is not toogreat. If the suction is too' great, the valve 97 will be seated therebyand remain seated until the diminishing suction is overcome by theaction of the spring 100, and the flow of fluid fuel to the engine willnot occur until the valve is thus unseated.

In all the embodiments of the invention shown herein an automatic valveis em ployed which is operated by the suction of the engine to preventthe flow of fluld to the engine when the suction is too great but toallow the flow of such afluid when the suction is suficiently-light,-aswhen the enine is substantially at a standstill and ust before thiscondition. It w1l1 be ap' parent that the head of the automatic valveinseam which is remote from the spark plug and cylinder will act as acheck valve to prevent the loss of compression when the engine isstarted, the head of the valve which is nearer the spark plug andcylinder serving to prevent the waste of gas through the admission ofthe same to the spark plug and cylinder before the engine has nearlystopped.

The invention disclosed herein is comparatively simple and inexpensivebut is extremely eficient in operation. The regulatmg valve 14 can beadjusted to control the amount of gas flowing through the conduit so asto adapt the same for the needs of the engine. After such regulation hasbeen ef fected, the flow of the gas thus regulated may be instituted byunseating the valve 22. The employment of the automatic valve 58, 59protects the entire gas line extending therefrom to the tank 4 from thesuction of the engines except when the suction falls to thepredetermined degree. This results in a great saving of gas in a systemwherein the charging of the engines is accomplished just prior tostopping the same, and this saving is an important desideratum both withand without the employment of a mixer. The automatic valve is also ofgreat advantage when the lamps are in use, as it protects the lampconduits 7 from the to such an extent as to produce no material effecton such conduits and the satisfactory operation of the lamps.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In startingmechanism for internal combustion engines, the combination of a gaseousfluid supplyconduit, an engine cylinder with which said conduit isconnected, valve mechanism normally preventing the flow of fluid throughsaid conduit to said cylinder, and automatically operating valvemechanism within said conduit arranged to prevent the flow of fluidthrough said conduit until the suction produced within the cylinderfalls to a predetermined degree.

2. In startin mechanism for internal combustion engines, the combinationof a gaseous fluid supply conduit, an engine cylinder with which saidconduit is connected,

a valve regulating the flow of fluid through said conduit, valvemechanism normally preventing the flow of fluid from the former valve tosaid cylinder, and automatically operating valve mechanism within saidconduit arranged to prevent the flow of such internal combustion engine,a gaseous fuel conduit communicating therewith and adapted to supplyfuel thereto for the purpose of starting the engine, and meanscontrolled by the speed of such engine for permitting the flow of suchfuel through the conduit to the cylinder.

4. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, agaseous fuel conduit communicating therewith and adapted to supply suchfuel thereto for the purpose of startin the engine, a regulating valvein such con uit, a spring seated cutoff valve normally preventing theflow of fuel through said conduit, and an automatically operating valveinterposed between the former valves and the cylinder and arranged "tocontrol the flow of the starting fluid in accordance with-pressureconditions in the cylinder.

5. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, afluid conduit communicating therewith, a valve for regulating the flowof. such fluid through said conduit, a normally seated valve in saidconduit, and a valve interposed between theformer valves and thecylinder and arranged to prevent the flow of gaseous fuel through theconduit until the suction produced w1thin the cylinder falls to apredetermined de- G. The combination of a cylinder of aninternalcombustion engine, a fluid conduit communicating therewith and adaptedto supply fluid thereto for starting purposes a valve for regulating theflow of such fluid through sai conduit, -a mixing chamberwithin saidconduit, and an automatically. operating valve interposed between themlxing chamber and the cylinder and arranged to prevent the flow offluid from said cham-' her to the cylinder until the suction within: thelatter falls to a predetermined degree.

7. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, afluid conduit communicating therewith and adapted to: supply fluidthereto for starting purposes, a valve for regulating the flow of suchfluid through said conduit, a mixing chamber within said conduit, anormally closed cutoff valve interposed between the mixing chamber andthe cylinder, and an automatically operating valve between the lastmentioned valve and the cylinder and arranged, to cut off communicationbetween the mixing chamber and the cylinder until the suction in thelatter falls to a predetermined degree.

8. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, afiuid conduit communicating with said cylinder to supply fluid theretofor starting purposes, said conduit being provided with a valve chamberone end of which is of smaller diameter thanthe other and having anannular valve seat at each end of said chamber, a valve stem havingthereon a pair of valves mounted in opposite ends of said chamber andarranged to reciprocate therewithin, each valve being adapted tocooperate with a seat, there being one or more passageways providedoutside of the central body portion of each valve.

9. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, afluid conduit communicating with said cylinder to supply fluid theretofor starting purposes, said conduit being provided with a valve chamberhaving an annular valve seat at each end thereof, a valve stem havingthereon a pair of valves mounted in said chamber and arranged toreciprocate therewithin, each valve being adapted to cooperate with aseat, there being one or more passage ways provided around the body ofeach valve, and a valve in the conduit arranged normally to prevent theflow of fluid to the said chamber.

10. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a regulatingvalve in said conduit, a normally seated cut-ofl' valve in said conduitand interposed between the regulating valve and the cylinder, meanswhereby the latter valve maybe unseated, and an automatically operatingvalve interposed between the last mentioned valve and the cylinder andadapted to be opened and closed by variations in pressure conditions inthat portion of the -conduit between said valve and the cylinder. 1

11. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a valve insaid conduit, a second valve in said conduit and normally seated by thepressure of such fluid, a push rod having a portion within said conduitadapted to engage the seeond valve to unseat the same, and a springnormally holding the rod out of operative relation to said valve.

12. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a valve insaid conduit, a second valve 1n said conduit and normally seated by thepressure of said fluid, a mixing chamber in said conduit into which thestem of said second valve projects, a valve seat interposed between themixing chamber and the portion of the conduit-extending to the cylinder,a valve stem slidably mounted in the conduit and having a valvecooperating with said seat and adapted by its movement to engage saidstem, and a spring normally holding the last mentioned valve on saidseat.

13. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a valve insaid conduit, a second valve normally seated by the pressure of thefluid in said conduit, an automatic valve in said conduit arranged toprevent the flow of such fluid to the cylinder until the suction thereinfalls to a predetermined degree, an unseating device for the secondvalve, and means whereby the movement of said device will cut out theigniting circuit.

14: The combination of a cylinder of aninternal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a valve insaid conduit, a mixing chamber in said conduit, a valve controlling theflow of fluid from said mixing chamber, a valve normally seated bypressure of the gas in the conduit to prevent the flow of gas into themixing chamber, and means whereby the opening of the second valve willunseat the third valve.

15. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fuel thereto for starting pur poses, a valve insaid conduit, a longitudinally movable valve stem within said conduitand interposed between said valve and the cylinder, a valve on saidvalve stem, a push rod projecting into said conduit and adapted by amovement in one direction to operate said valve stem in a direction tounseat the valve, and a spring opposing such movement of the push rod.

16. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a regulatingvalve in said conduit, a cut-off valve normally preventing the flow ofsuch fuel through said conduit, and an automatically operating valveinterposed between the former valves and the cylinder and arranged tocontrol the flow of such fluid in accordance with pressure conditions inthe' conduit.

17. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a normallyseated valve in said conduit, and a valve interposed between the formervalve and the cylinder and arranged to prevent the flow of gaseous fuelthrough the conduit until the suction therein falls to a predetermineddegree.

18. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a valve forregulating the flow of such fluid through said conduit, a mixing chamherwithin said conduit, and an automatically operating valve interposedbetween the mixing chamber and the cylinder and arranged to prevent theflow of fluid from said chamber through the conduit until the suctionwithin the conduit falls to a predetermincd degree.

19. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a valve insaid conduit normally seated by the pressure of such fluid, a push rodhaving a portion within said conduit adapted to engage said valve tounseat the same, and a spring normally holding the rod out of operativerelation to said valve.

20. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a valve insaid conduit normally seated by the pressure of such fluid, said valvehaving a stem within said conduit, a valve seat in said conduit betweenthe for mer valve and the cylinder, a valve stem slidably mounted in theconduit and having a valve cooperating with said seat and adapted by itsmovement to engage the stem of the former valve, and a spring normallyholding the last mentioned valve on its seat.

21. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto. for starting pa poses, a valvenormally seated by the prr i sure of fluid in such conduit, an automatvalve in said conduit arranged to prevent the flow of fluid to thecylinder until the suction in theconduit falls to a predetermineddegrec, an unseating device for the first mentioned valve, and meanswhereby the movement of said device will cut out the igniting circuit.

22. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, a valve insaid conduit arranged to prevent the flow of such fluid until thesuction in the conduit falls to a predetermined degree, and meansconnected with said conduit for creating a suction therein.

23. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, an automaticvalve in said conduit arranged to prevent the 'flow of fluidtherethrough until the suction in the conduit falls to a predetermineddegree, and a pump connected with said conduit.

24. The combination of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, aconduit for supplying fluid thereto for starting purposes, an automaticvalve in said conduit ar ranged to prevent the flow of fluidtherethrough until the suction in the conduit falls to a predetermineddegree, a valve on the supply side of the automatic valve and normallyseated by the pressure of the fluid in said conduit, means for unseatingthe last mentioned valve, and a pump interposed between the firstmentioned valve and the cylinder and communicating with the conduit.

25. In a starter for gas engines in combination with an aperturedcasing, means for introducing thereinto a supply of gas under pressure,means whereby the flow may be manually regulated, means actuated by saidlast mentioned means for stopping the further actuation of the magnetocoincidently with the opening of said valve, and an apertured sleeveadapted to engage over one of the apertures in said casing, wherebyintroducing thereinto a supply of gas, a pipe connecting one of theapertures inithe casing with the engine cylinder, a valve con-,

trolling the flow therethrough and adapted to be held in closed positionby the suction due to the running of the engine, and means forcontemporaneously opening the inlet aperture and for stopping thefurther action of the magneto, thereby stoppingthe engine.

27. A starter for a gas engine, having in combination a casing providedwith a plurality of apertures a stem'member slidably engaging thereinthrough one of said aper tures, means for introducing a supply of gasinto said casing throughanother of said apertures, means adapted to bepositively actuated by said stem for controlling the inflow through saidlast mentioned means, a pipe connecting said casing with the enginecylinder, 21. valve adapted to be closed by the suction in said'pipe dueto the movement of the engine piston in the cylinder, and meansfor'stopping the magneto'coincident-ly with the admission of gas intothe casing and through said'pipe.

28. In a starter for gas engines, in combination with a casing member,inlet and outlet pipes leading respectively into the interior thereofand therefrom to connection withthe enginecylinders, a normally closedvalve controlling the flow through said inlet pipe, a stem memberwhereby said valve may beactuated, and an electrical connection adaptedto be grounded by the actuation of said stem member, whereby ignition ofthe supply of gas admitted by the opening of said valve is avoided.

In, testimony whereof, I hereunto aflixvJ. B. HULL,

BRENNAN B. WEs'r.

